Down the lane
behind the cottage
where you lived
you walked with Jane
the summer sun
beaming down
the birds in song
cows mooing
from the fields beyond
I can’t believe
you actually got
the cows in
the other day
she said
you a London boy
her eyes focused on you
her lips in smile
it was fun
you said
the cow man was helping me
of course but he said
I did well
she knelt down
by the small running stream
along the lane
you knelt beside her
she put her fingers
in the water
as it flowed through
her open fingers
you studied her fingers
and her hand
her face in profile
her dark hair
and her kneeling there
the smell of apples
and freshness
and you wanted
to kiss her
as she knelt
to put lips
to cheek
she broke the silence
what do you want to do
when you leave school?
she asked
the cowman asked me that
you said
what did you say?
she asked
said I wanted
to be a cowman
she smiled
what did he say?
he said want to get yourself
a proper job sonny
don’t to want to get stuck
on a farm all your life
what did you say?
she said leaning closer
her arm touching yours
I just said I liked the work
you said
she nodded
and you sensed
her nearness
her knee near yours
she stood up
and so did you
and walked on
she talked
of her father’s work
and her mother’s ways
and how she thought
her mother liked you
and you listened
to her words
and wanted
to hold them
and frame them
and to place them
in your heart
and mind
for always
the lane
the stream
the bird song
the long summer days.
Apr 23, 2013
Apr 23, 2013 at 3:19 PM UTC
Down the lane
behind the cottage
where you lived
you walked with Jane
the summer sun
beaming down
the birds in song
cows mooing
from the fields beyond
I can’t believe
you actually got
the cows in
the other day
she said
you a London boy
her eyes focused on you
her lips in smile
it was fun
you said
the cow man was helping me
of course but he said
I did well
she knelt down
by the small running stream
along the lane
you knelt beside her
she put her fingers
in the water
as it flowed through
her open fingers
you studied her fingers
and her hand
her face in profile
her dark hair
and her kneeling there
the smell of apples
and freshness
and you wanted
to kiss her
as she knelt
to put lips
to cheek
she broke the silence
what do you want to do
when you leave school?
she asked
the cowman asked me that
you said
what did you say?
she asked
said I wanted
to be a cowman
she smiled
what did he say?
he said want to get yourself
a proper job sonny
don’t to want to get stuck
on a farm all your life
what did you say?
she said leaning closer
her arm touching yours
I just said I liked the work
you said
she nodded
and you sensed
her nearness
her knee near yours
she stood up
and so did you
and walked on
she talked
of her father’s work
and her mother’s ways
and how she thought
her mother liked you
and you listened
to her words
and wanted
to hold them
and frame them
and to place them
in your heart
and mind
for always
the lane
the stream
the bird song
the long summer days.
Request permission to use this poem